Bangladesh Excels at Overthrowing Rulers But Struggles to Build Democracy, Editor Says
Bangladesh has a unique strength in removing autocratic leaders. But building a stable democracy afterwards remains a big challenge. This was observed by Mahfuz Anam, Editor of The Daily Star, on Sunday. He said Bangladesh often fails to build strong democratic systems. The main reason for this failure is too much politics in every institution.
Mr. Anam spoke at the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026. The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) organized this three-day event in Dhaka. He was part of a discussion called ‘Do We Know How to Govern?’.
The editor also spoke about problems with governance worldwide. He noted there are more wars happening now than at any time since the Second World War. Small countries are vulnerable to powerful states. He believes more money should go to fighting climate change. Instead, the world is spending more on weapons. This use of funds is harmful, he added.
Bangladesh was born from a fight against military rule. The country returned to democracy in 1991. People hoped this would create a strong democracy. But instead, the nation moved towards conflict. Mr. Anam believes Bangladesh does not truly understand good governance. It struggles to use its people’s strengths for national growth.
He explained that during the fight against a dictator, the nation unites. After the dictator is gone, the nation divides. Groups that worked together become enemies. This stops democracy from becoming strong in Bangladesh.
Politicization affects many jobs, Mr. Anam said. Doctors and journalists, for example, often divide based on political party support. He questioned how a journalist can be neutral while supporting a political party. Credibility is a journalist’s most important asset.
This political influence also affects government bodies. It touches the bureaucracy, police, and intelligence agencies. Independent institutions also face this problem. When a party wins an election, it should serve the public. But often, the government machinery becomes an extension of the party. This leads to corruption, bias, and unfair advantages. It slowly breaks down the whole system of governance.
Mr. Anam suggested that technology can help. It can create a better bureaucracy and police force. Bangladesh faces big challenges like limited land and a large population. It also faces natural disasters. But the country has great potential. It can grow by using technology, education, and good governance.
